A Closer Look at Fastnet Rock

Tara Madgwick - Thursday May 14

The ability to consistently sire Group I winners is the key attribute that sets a legendary sire apart from his peers and Fastnet Rock has that attribute in spades.

Fastnet Rock has been a phenomenal source of G1 winners! Coolmore’s champion sire Fastnet Rock is one of the few Australian bred stallions to achieve high levels of success in both hemispheres, his overall tally of 157 stakes-winners including 39 from his years of service in Ireland.

For the purposes of this story we will just look at his Australian conceived progeny that have excelled over all distances and jurisdictions making Fastnet Rock a phenomenal success both on the track and in the sale ring.

As a proven sire of sires, he has also enjoyed elite success with no fewer than six of his sire sons producing Group I winners led by Hinchinbrook, Foxwedge and Smart Missile, with his champion son Merchant Navy poised to write the next chapter in this part of the Fastnet Rock story.

Turning 19 this year, Fastnet Rock has done all that could be asked of a stallion and his fee this spring of $165,000 is value in the context of his exceptional record.

Fastnet Rock as had at least one Group I winner in every foal crop he has produced and in the case of his game changing third crop, he produced an astonishing six!

His current season two year-olds hold great promise for their classic season and include Group I placed colt Glenfiddich and Group I placed filly Personal, both looming as Guineas type contenders for the future.
 

Crop Year (SH)

Mares Covered / Service Fee

Stakes-Winners/ Best Performers

2006

208/ $55,000

13 SW’s / G1 Wanted, Irish Lights, Rock Classic

2007

194/ $55,000

8 SW’s / G1 Lone Rock

2008

257 / $55,000

13 SW’s / G1 Atlantic Jewel, Mosheen, Foxwedge, Sea Siren, Planet Rock, Rock ‘n’ Pop

2009

251 / $82,500

16 SW’s / G1 Super Cool, Nechita, Driefontein, Albany Reunion, Your Song

2010

273/ $60,500

15 SW’s / G1 Atlante

2011

188 / $137,500

11 SW’s / G1 First Seal, Amicus, Awesome Rock, Magicool

2012

224 / $132,000

8 SW’s / G1 Dreamforce

2013

208 / $220,000

11 SW’s / G1 Comin’ Through, Heroic Valour

2014

212 / $275,000

11 SW’s / G1 Shoals, Merchant Navy, Unforgotten, Catchy, Age of Fire

2015

189 / FOA

5 SW’s / G1 Avantage

2016

206 / FOA

5 SW’s / G1 Prince Fawaz, Sherwood Forest

2017

149/ FOA

2 SW’s / Rathlin, Unition

2018

163 / FOA

Yearlings

2019

119 / FOA

Foals

2020

98/ $165,000

Yet to be born


Click here for a Closer Look at Snitzel.
Click here for a Closer Look at Pierro.
Click here for a Closer Look at Exceed and Excel.
 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Inglis Confirm Skybird for Everest Slot
Inglis is thrilled to confirm G1 winner Skybird (Exosphere) as our representative for the running of the $20m The Everest.
Half Yours Delivers Fee Increase for St Jean
The rise of Caulfield Cup favourite Half Yours as one of the most promising young stayers in the land has put the spotlight on his sire St Jean (IRE).
Breeding to Win - 2025 Manikato Stakes
Racing at The Valley on Grand Final Eve in Melbourne - the southern capital doing what it does best, bringing people together in celebration of sporting greatness!
Golden Rose Sires Where Are They Now?
Since the $1million Golden Rose was elevated to Group I status in 2009 it has been won in every single year bar one by a colt with the lone gelding to succeed being Manawanui in 2011 and winning this race is a passport to a commercial stud career, so we thought we’d take a look at the fortunes of the past winners who have gone to stud in Australia.
Golden Rose Colts – Sires of the Future
The $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) this Saturday offers the winner far more than prizemoney and assuming it’s a colt he is given a golden ticket to a commercial stud career, so let’s take a look at this year’s contenders, who would you want on your stallion roster in 2026?
La Dorada Chasing Redemption at Valley
Last season’s champion NZ two-year-old La Dorada will be out to prove her ability against her Australian counterparts on Friday night when she contests the Gr.3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday September 24
Here is the full list of 47 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Merchant Navy 3YO Ready to Strike Form
Cody Cole is keeping his options open with talented three-year-old Landlock as wet weather threatens to halt his initial plan to contest Saturday’s Gr.2 Timberspan Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Te Rapa.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Richard Johnston has bred some very good horses under his Bylong Park banner including triple Group I winner Think It Over and an Anders three year-old he bred and races was an eye-catching debut winner at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
Aquis Welcome First foals for Young Gun Officiating
A fast Group winning sprinter by Breeders Cup Classic winner Blame, Officiating (USA) was carefully selected by Aquis Stallions following a global headhunting mission to secure an outcross stallion for Queensland and his first foals are arriving this spring.